When it comes to creating the ultimate holiday experience, five holiday parks from across New Zealand know just what it takes to turn an average vacation into the ultimate holiday experience.

Mawley Holiday Park in Masterton, Beachaven Kiwi Holiday Park in Waihi, Queenstown Lakeview Holiday Park, Waikanae Beach Top 10 near Gisborne and Whangateau Holiday Park north of Auckland have been selected as finalists for the AA Traveller Spirit of Hospitality Award.

The award recognises and celebrates the effort put in by the people who provide the experiences at New Zealand holiday parks.

AA Tourism Publishing General Manager Moira Penman says it’s often small acts of kindness, along with hosts consistently doing that little bit extra for their guests, that makes these finalists stand out.

“The finalists this year have shown outstanding examples of hospitality from specially catering Christmas breakfast to make international guests feel at home, to providing lifejackets and fixing the wheel on a trailer to ensure two young boys got to enjoy their first ever fishing trip with their dad,” says Ms Penman.

“Each of our five finalists has gone above and beyond to make hospitality in the holiday park sector truly shine,” she says. “With almost $36.7 million a day injected into the economy through domestic travel and tourism, providing great hospitality is about more than just making good memories, it’s also about creating a memorable business.”

The winner of the AA Traveller Spirit of Hospitality Award will be announced on Wednesday, June 24 at the Holiday Parks Conference in Auckland. The judging panel was made up of representatives from the AA and AA Traveller, Qualmark and Inside Tourism.

AA Traveller is an expert in domestic tourism in New Zealand and publishes and distributes almost three million maps and accommodation guides every year to assist motorists and visitors as they explore the country.